The Will ALL THAT WE CAN DO
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2:13.
One of the probing questions that has frustrated Christian for years is the question of how the will operates after conversion. There have been debates and questions concerning the will, but most of the discussions have dealt with the use of the will before conversion--whether man is free to be saved or not. Very little has been done on the use of the will after conversion. But there are several classic statements on the subject, from inspiration.
What can we do in this whole business of salvation from our sinning? Selected Messages, book 1, page 381, says: "Let no man present the idea that man has little or nothing to do in the great work of overcoming; for God does nothing for man without his cooperation. Neither say that after you have done all you can on your part, Jesus will help you. Christ has said, 'Without me ye can do nothing.' " "All that man can possibly do toward his own salvation is to accept the invitation, 'Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' "--Ibid., p. 343. So let's nail it down--there is something for us to do, and that is to take the water of life freely.
But that's an intangible. Where is the water of life? The same author defines what it is in Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, page 113: "In...communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of the great and precious truths of His word, we shall as hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the fountain of life." So, how do we partake of the water of life? By communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of His Word.
One of our problems in trying to live the Christian life is that we often are found trying hard to do that which God has told us we cannot do--fight sin and the devil. And we do not put forth effort to do that which He has invited us to do, that is, seek communion with Him. This does not mean that works are unimportant, but we are talking about method. And the method of knowing God's gifts is by faith alone. As we put forth our effort to come to Jesus, and to keep coming to Jesus, He will fulfill His promise to work in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2:13.
One of the probing questions that has frustrated Christian for years is the question of how the will operates after conversion. There have been debates and questions concerning the will, but most of the discussions have dealt with the use of the will before conversion--whether man is free to be saved or not. Very little has been done on the use of the will after conversion. But there are several classic statements on the subject, from inspiration.
What can we do in this whole business of salvation from our sinning? Selected Messages, book 1, page 381, says: "Let no man present the idea that man has little or nothing to do in the great work of overcoming; for God does nothing for man without his cooperation. Neither say that after you have done all you can on your part, Jesus will help you. Christ has said, 'Without me ye can do nothing.' " "All that man can possibly do toward his own salvation is to accept the invitation, 'Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' "--Ibid., p. 343. So let's nail it down--there is something for us to do, and that is to take the water of life freely.
But that's an intangible. Where is the water of life? The same author defines what it is in Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, page 113: "In...communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of the great and precious truths of His word, we shall as hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the fountain of life." So, how do we partake of the water of life? By communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of His Word.
One of our problems in trying to live the Christian life is that we often are found trying hard to do that which God has told us we cannot do--fight sin and the devil. And we do not put forth effort to do that which He has invited us to do, that is, seek communion with Him. This does not mean that works are unimportant, but we are talking about method. And the method of knowing God's gifts is by faith alone. As we put forth our effort to come to Jesus, and to keep coming to Jesus, He will fulfill His promise to work in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure.
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